Father David Gréa, who with his youthful good lo0ks and approachable demeanour has become something of a poster boy for the French Catholic Church, is leaving his post as priest of Saint Blandine in Lyon in order to marry. He had been at the church for six years.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have called for a 'radical new Christian inclusion' towards gay couples in the Church of England after its ruling body voted down a report maintaining a conservative line on sexuality.